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Dallas County sheriff seeks West Des Moines pledge for Fallen Peace Officer Memorial
Summary
Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante asked the West Des Moines City Council to consider a three‑year pledge of $25,000–$50,000 toward a planned Thin Blue Line memorial on county land near the Raccoon River Valley Trail; the county owns the site and the project has raised about $60,000 to date.
Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante told the West Des Moines City Council on May 19 that his office is raising funds for a statewide Fallen Peace Officer Memorial along the Raccoon River Valley Trail and asked the council to consider a three‑year pledge of city funds.
Infante described the proposed memorial as a wall-style installation—modeled on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial—that would sit on county‑owned land behind the Dallas County sheriff’s office and serve as the southern anchor of the regional trail network. He said the project team has received in‑kind donations for earthwork and has raised about $60,000 in small donations so far.
"I'm flat out asking you for money," Infante said, asking the council to consider a pledge in the neighborhood of $25,000 to $50,000 over three years. He estimated the project's total cost at about $1.5 million and said the memorial would include a commissioned Tree of Life feature to be made by a West Des Moines metal artist.
Infante told the council the county has donated the land and undertaken related trail upgrades; he said Dallas County had initially agreed to a larger contribution for a separate recreation project but later reduced that commitment. Council members thanked Infante, described the memorial as an important project, and asked him to follow up with the county on what the county itself will contribute. Councilman Hudson noted that the sheriff's office provides policing services in unincorporated areas adjacent to West Des Moines and thanked Infante for the presentation.
Infante said the next fundraising steps include presentations to other cities and private donors; the memorial planning team is pursuing grants and corporate support in addition to municipal pledges.
Council members did not take a formal funding vote at the May 19 meeting; Infante asked the council to consider the pledge at a future agenda once the City has had time to review the request.
